I'm a national real estate advisor and I use all sorts of terms. DMV, DC MSA, DC region, DC metro area, DC, the Washington, DC region. It depends on who I'm talking to. Most people who know the area can use these terms interchangeably and still understand what we are talking about.

DMV is used a lot, even by native DC folks. I never understand this notion that if YOU haven't heard it, then no one must say it.

most of the Urban aka black radio stations have been using DMV for years

I'm a white dude who listens to urban stations sometimes the mixes during rush hour are pretty good. Anyway, I've been here since 2000 and DMV is frequently used on these stations

Anonymous wrote:No, and not from here (although been here 25 years). Sounds stupid to me. Took years for me to even realize people weren't talking about renewing their license or getting tags for their car.

+1

No, of course not. It is idiotic and I don't want to be associated with Maryland and Virginia anyway.

Anonymous wrote:I went to college in Miami and no one knew what “Northern Virginia” was so I would say DC so they understood that locale better.

There was a period in my life where I would refer to Northern Virginia as such or maybe NoVa.

I think it actually offended someone from the southern/more rural part of Virginia. With them saying that there's no such thing as "Northern Virginia". And it should be just Virginia as a whole state, people who live in that part of Virginia still live in Virginia, etc, etc.

So stopped distinguishing that part of Virginia as Northern Virginia/NoVa and just say Virginia whenever I talk about that area.

I used to meet people that didn't know where Maryland was. So would always just use DC as a reference, saying it was next to Washington DC.

No. I'm from here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course not. I'm from here; literally no one I know who actually grew up here calls it the DMV. That's not a thing to us.

+1
Yep, I've lived here for 50 years, and no one calls it that. I've only see this on DCUM.
DMV is the Division of Motor Vehicles!

Real question: do you have any age 40s or younger black friends or acquaintances IRL? Because not all of us use that term, but enough do that I heard it for years before even moving here.

Anonymous wrote:Of course not. I'm from here; literally no one I know who actually grew up here calls it the DMV. That's not a thing to us.

+1
Yep, I've lived here for 50 years, and no one calls it that. I've only see this on DCUM.
DMV is the Division of Motor Vehicles!

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know where/how this usage started? I don't like it because it feels like we are a day late in following some cute social media naming trend. Forced.

I will try to refrain from violence if you use it in my presence.

Ok, I take that back. I did not know this term has been kicking around the African American community in Washington for many years. I had thought it was some brain dead corporate creation of the last 3 years.
I still won't use it myself but I won't take offence if you say it.

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes. Not from here.

Oh and I'm black.

Sometimes. Not from here.

I went to college in Miami and no one knew what “Northern Virginia” was so I would say DC so they understood that locale better.

Anonymous wrote:its a black white thing

black people have been using it for years

another DCUM bubble issue

Interesting I often talk about black vs white terms with my friends but they are mostly boujee and I’ve never heard them use the term.

Anonymous wrote:its a black white thing

black people have been using it for years

another DCUM bubble issue

Interesting. How many years? Are we talking more like 5, 10 or 25?